by guest columnist Jessica G. Ourisman
When my boyfriend and I moved to Paris, we were initially stranded — stranded at The Ritz, mind you, but stranded nonetheless. Although we had leased an apartment in advance of our arrival, both our rental agent and property manager were MIA. This meant that the two of us, our two miniature schnauzers, and more checked luggage than you should ever travel with, were left with nowhere to go.
France has a reputation for being generally dog-friendly, but this is not entirely accurate. The boutique hotels in the 7th arrondissement were unwilling to accept our pets. Luckily, my dad and stepmom were staying in a suite at The Ritz and they graciously loaned us the use of their room for the afternoon. However, while The Ritz is a spectacular place — a vision that Ernest Hemingway equated with heaven — to stay there indefinitely was beyond our means (and that's putting it nicely).
It ended up being an entire day and night before we could gain access to our apartment. In the meantime, my dad booked us a room at the Hotel Castille on rue Cambon. Situated directly behind The Ritz, which you enter off the Place Vendome, Castille's location proved ideal for the transfer of our luggage. Moreover, its location in the central 1st arrondissement is ideal for sightseeing, shopping, and dining. Walking distance from Coco Chanel's O.G. atelier, amble just a bit further to find The Joelle Ciocco Spa where you can get a world-class facial from Paris' cult-favorite, celebrity esthetician.
Hotel Castille was perfect for us. A charming 4-star hotel with a boutique feel, it provides all the necessary amenities. While staying at The Ritz provides an immersive experience into France's lavish cultural legacy, the stylish-but-contemporary decor at Hotel Castille imparts a less extravagant — but more livable — Italian-inspired feel.
We were thrilled. Our top floor room offered a view of the Parisian rooftops, while in-room dining made it possible for us to snack while still sleeping off our jet-lag. Guest services brought up a dog bed and bowls for our furry "children," and we were able to truly relax for what seemed like the first time in months.
The next morning, our apartment was finally ready for move-in. We enjoyed a buffet-style breakfast, including what tasted like drip coffee (versus espresso, which you will find almost everywhere else in Paris). Checkout was a pleasant surprise at a price that — unlike that of the Ritz — was also much more "livable."
Although we didn't sample many of Hotel Castille's amenities — including a fitness room and a restaurant run by a Michelin-starred chef — the four of us (pups included) could not have been happier during our brief stay.
Note from David — We can offer Travel Leaders Select amenities at Hotel Castille.
- Complimentary Full American Buffet breakfast for two daily
- Early check-in and late check-out subject to availability
- Upgrade upon arrival subject to availability
- $100 F&B voucher for the restaurant (not including minibar)
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